The Art of Banksy in Amsterdam (2)

As said in yesterday's post I'm showing you 2 more works from Banksy that I saw recently at the current exhibition in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. "The 'Barcode Leopard' from 2003 was first displayed in Banksy's breakthrough 2002 exhibiton "Existencilism". It has become one of his most renowned and sold works. Ironically, the barcode serves as a cage, from which the wild feline emerges feral; licking the wounds it bears from the illegal tiger trade. However, one could also surmise that the tiger represents all of us, confined behind the bars of the jail of savage consumerism."

This is the "Flower Thrower", also from 2003. The text next to the image says: "The Banksy image that I liked best is that of a protester poised to throw a bouquet of flowers. It communicates the intense energy, passion, and focus of those engaged in 'the resistance' while also conveying the methods to be used such as art, humor, and general transcendence" (Journalist Gregory Johnson)

The Art of Banksy in Amsterdam (1)

I recently visited the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam that currently has 'The Art of Banksy'-exhibition. From the info at the exhibition: "Nobody knows who is Banksy, yet everybody knows who he is. He is probably the most famous yet the most mysterious graffiti artist this world has seen. In 2010, Time Magazine selected the British artist for its list of the world's 100 most influential people among the company of Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Lady Gaga." This display of a car is at the entrance.

 "Girl and Balloon" from 2003 is among his best-known pieces. "Evocative and affectionate at first look. Girl With A Balloon throws the viewer off-balance after the first impression of compassion wears off: Has the girl released the balloon, having given up on love long lost, fulfilling one entrance into the symbolic order that is society or has she lost grip of it, doomed to desperately seek that one feeling that is a human beings' primary need?"
Not really familiar yet with the works of Banksy, I was quite impressed with what I saw at the exhibition and read about him. Another post tomorrow.

safety door

This is inside the Beurs van Berlage, in the centre of Amsterdam. The building was designed as a commodity exchange and constructed around 1900. This was no doubt the entrance of one of the vaults, currently used as exhibition room displaying '100 years of advertising' with famous people from the Netherlands.